A month and a half remains until the World Cup. Argentina are defending the trophy. On the team sheet — 21 names confirmed, five places open. And at the centre — one question with no answer yet: will Lionel Messi step onto the pitch in North America?
One "no" — and the script changes. One "yes" — and the greatest farewell in football history comes alive.
And while Messi stays silent, the entire world is holding its breath, waiting.
THE DECISION IS HIS
Lionel Scaloni has been clear. Press conference after press conference, the same message has been repeated.
"I will do everything I can to make sure he is there," Scaloni said. "I believe that he has to be there, for the sake of football, but it's not me who decides. It's up to him, how he feels in his mind and his physical condition. He has earned the right to decide calmly. We are not in a rush. We know that whatever he decides will be the best thing for both him and the team."
Messi himself — at 38 years old — has said little, and chosen not to commit to much more.
Back in September 2024, he had cast doubt openly: "I said before about the World Cup that I don't think I'll play another. Because of my age, the most logical thing is that I won't make it."
By October 2025, at the unveiling of the "Leo Messi Stand" at Inter Miami's Nu Stadium, the tone had softened: "It's something extraordinary to be part of a World Cup, and I'd love to be there. I want to be involved, to feel good, and to help the team if I'm able to. I'll take it day by day when I start pre-season with Inter Miami and see if I can reach 100 percent, if I can still contribute, and then I'll decide."
And the dates make this a historic call. Messi will be 38 when the World Cup begins on June 11. On June 16, in Argentina's opening match against Algeria in Kansas City — still 38. By the second group game against Austria on June 22 — still 38. Then he turns 39, on June 24. By the final group game against Jordan on June 27 — already 39. By a possible final on July 19 — a 39-year-old footballer with the ball at his feet.
If he plays, he will join an exclusive group of footballers who appeared at a World Cup at 39 or older — Dani Alves, Rafael Márquez, Stanley Matthews, Pepe. Messi already holds the all-time record for most World Cup matches played — 26.
SCALONI HAS ALREADY CONFIRMED 21 NAMES — AND THE FIFA CLOCK IS TICKING
But the team is not standing still. According to ESPN Argentina, Scaloni has already locked in 21 names from the final squad. Five spots remain, and the battle for them is on.
The confirmed core — largely the Qatar 2022 champions. Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa) in goal — winner of the Golden Glove at that World Cup. The central defence — Cristian Romero (Tottenham captain) and Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica). At full-back — Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon) and Nahuel Molina (Atlético Madrid). In central midfield — Rodrigo De Paul (Atlético Madrid), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors).
And up front — Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), Julián Álvarez (Atlético Madrid), Nicolás González (Juventus), plus Messi himself.
This is the team that won the World Cup final in 2022. There is no major overhaul — just minimal modification, with the same core, alongside a few new stars.
The deadlines are now a matter of weeks. Argentina must submit a preliminary list of 35 to 55 players to FIFA by May 11. The final 26-man squad — to be precise, between 23 and 26 names — must be submitted by May 30, just twelve days before the tournament begins.
The clock is ticking, and Messi will be on at least one of those lists.
A NEW GENERATION — MASTANTUONO, PAZ, BARCO
And here is where the change is taking shape. One of the most interesting factors for Argentina in 2026 — the young players entering their first World Cup race.
Franco Mastantuono — 18 years old. He moved to Real Madrid from River Plate last summer. A central attacking midfielder with outstanding technique. One of Scaloni's main candidates for the future of the central line.
Nico Paz — 21 years old. A standout season at Como — a Real Madrid academy graduate, playing the central midfield role with real precision. Argentina's most exciting addition to its midfield.
Valentín Barco — 21 years old. A Strasbourg player, Ligue 1, where he completed a permanent move from Brighton in July 2025 after an impressive loan spell. A left-sided full-back, technically one of the best in Argentina's younger generation.
Alejandro Garnacho — 21 years old. Chelsea's winger, after a £40 million move from Manchester United in August 2025. A potential star, though his place in the World Cup squad is not yet certain.
These four players are the faces of Argentina's future. And at least one of them — possibly two — will earn a place in the final 26.
INJURIES THAT RESHAPED THE SQUAD
The squad picture has been altered by a wave of major injuries.
Juan Foyth, the Villarreal defender who could play across multiple positions and who was part of the 2022 winning squad, suffered a serious injury earlier this year that ended his season. Giovani Lo Celso — also at Villarreal on loan — has been ruled out with a torn quadriceps in his right leg. Valentín Carboni is out with a serious knee injury.
That is three squad-quality players, all unavailable.
In Foyth's absence, the central-defence backup roles are now being contested between Marseille's Leonardo Balerdi, Bournemouth's Marcos Senesi, and River Plate's Lautaro Rivero. Lisandro Martínez — gradually regaining form at Manchester United after a long-term injury — remains in the picture, but his fitness is still uncertain.
The central defence is one of the key questions of the squad. Romero and Otamendi are in the starting eleven, but the quality of their backups is one of the major debates ahead of the final 26.
ARGENTINA WITHOUT MESSI — A TEAM THAT NOW STANDS ON ITS OWN
And here is one fact that gives Scaloni quiet confidence regardless of Messi's decision.
Since winning the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, Argentina have played 11 matches without Messi — mostly due to injury. They lost just twice — both to Colombia and Ecuador in World Cup qualifying. They won the other nine.
Scaloni put it directly: "The team is now at a point where it can play the same way with Leo or without him. That used to be more complicated, as we had to change things. Now we don't, and that's a positive."
This is not Argentina from a decade ago — when the absence of Messi often meant the absence of an idea. This is a team that has built tactical structure, depth, and belief. Messi, if he plays, would be the ultimate addition. But Argentina are no longer dependent on him.
That truth, in its own way, makes Messi's decision easier. He does not have to play because the team needs him. He has to play only if he wants to.
Argentina, meanwhile, will already be there. They have already chosen Kansas City as their operational base, training at the Compass Minerals National Performance Center — a top-level facility regularly used by Sporting Kansas City. The opening match at Arrowhead Stadium against Algeria, the home of the NFL's Chiefs. Logistics, base, training facilities — all chosen, all planned.
A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY
And finally — the fact that gives this entire situation its emotional weight.
If Messi says "yes" — and if Argentina win — it will be a historic achievement. No team has won back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1962.
That legendary Brazil side — Pelé, Garrincha, Gilmar, Didi — won the title in Chile in 1962 to defend the one they had won in Sweden in 1958. Since then — 64 years — no one. Germany, after winning in 1990, went out in the 1994 quarter-finals. Brazil, after winning in 2002, exited at the 2006 quarter-finals. Italy, after winning in 2006, was eliminated at the 2010 group stage. France, after winning in 2018, lost the 2022 final to Argentina themselves.
For 64 years, that achievement has stayed out of reach. And now, one nearly-39-year-old footballer — Lionel Messi — could be the one to break that line.
This is not just one World Cup. It is the writing of history — where Messi could become the only footballer in the modern era to lift the trophy at 35 and again at 39, separated by a generational shift in the squad around him. Joining Pelé in the rarest category of all — players who lifted the World Cup in two different eras.
And that is exactly why Argentina is waiting. Inter Miami is watching. Scaloni is hoping. And the entire world — is holding its breath.
One "yes" — and the final dance begins.
One "no" — and the script changes.
And while Messi remains silent, one month ahead — everything is going to be hot.
